Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Hello everyone, it's not raining today! (for now)

Friends and Family,

This has been a really fun week here in Tokorozawa. Despite the turn in the weather, Elder Connell and I have really been able to make some progress in advancing the work of Salvation here in the Tokyo South region. Let me tell you a little about what we did this week!

Tuesday was Temple Pday. We took the train to Tokyo to attend a session at the temple and afterwards we went to an Indian curry restraint that was next door for lunch. That evening Elder Connell and I, as well as the other Zone leaders from the zone next door got together and prepared a presentation to give to the Stake Presidency about how the wards and the missionaries in the stake are doing. We had a discussion with about 6 or 7 members of the stake presidency and other auxiliary leadership positions. It went really well. I think. Their Japanese is really good. Luckily we had Brother Stevenson who is an interpreter for the Church to help,us out when we had no idea what they were asking or saying to us. It ended up being a great experience for everyone and the Stake presidency has our back. They want us to put together a large presentation that we will give for about an hour and a half to all the priesthood leaders in the Musashino Stake about missionary work.W That'll be in the coming weeks. I don't think I've ever given an hour and a half presentation let alone in Japanese before. This should be a very good experience for me!

This week on Wednesday we also had interviews with President Wada. I was able to sit down with him for about a half an hour and talk about the members of the zone, their concerns and how to become a better Zone leader. We talked about how to show people under your command that you care for them without having to tell them every single day that they mean a whole lot to you and that you care about them. As I try and apply this new approach to leadership, I hope that I can take the skills learned and apply them to the Military one day.

It's been raining all week like none other. As a result, I've been SOAKED all week. I finally found my rain jacket that I lent to sister Nara since she didn't have any a few weeks back and she left in the church. I'm so glad that now I can face the terrifying weather without fear.

I went to Kichijoji yet another time this week for what's called the Mission Leadership Council with President Wada. Basically all the missionary leads get together and talk a lot about the mission and do a lot of training and what not. Then we go and train all the other missionaries and fun is had by all. It was a good time. President Wada is really having us take charge of all the other missionaries here in the Japan Tokyo South mission area. My zone is in charge of training the whole mission on how to find people to teach using the tools that we have. It should be a lot of fun developing and running the mission wide training program. It'll be a whole lot of work, but it'll be fun.

Next week Monday is transfer calls, I can't believe it's been another six weeks! Time is flying by oh so quickly! Hope I get to stay in Tokorozawa for another transfer or two. Well see soon enough! I love you all! Talk to you next week!